Cincaluk...reflections from the sofa at Jim's (local pub lah!)

1 Wedding, 2 Brides, 3 Airports and a Funeral

2009-09-29T02:23:00.007+08:00

Trip to Europe Sept, 2009.

The Schedule

Tues 08/09/09 LCCT to Standstead (Air Asia), London
Thurs 10/09/09 Gatwick, London to Zurich (Easyjet), Switzerland for Jackie's Wedding
Mon 14/09/09 Zurich to Luton (Easyjet), London
Wed 16/09/09 Standstead, London to Cork (Ryanair), Ireland; visiting Leslie in Killarney
Fri 18/09/09 Cork to Standstead (Ryanair), London
Sat 19/09/09 Paddington, London to Tiverton Parkway (First Great Western), Devon; visitig Fiona in Shillingford
Sun 20/09/09 Tiverton Parkway, Devon (First Great Western)to Paddington
Weds 23/09/09 Standstead to LCCT (Air Asia)

Hotels

London Edward House Hotel
Rapperswille Jakob Hotel
Killarney Killarney Towers
Shillingford Barleycorn House

Other Stats

Number of Pictures taken: 996 (4.2G)
Distance Travelled: Lots
Most shocking event: Paying 12.5 Swiss Francs for a Big Mac Meal! Here's the proof.

Pictures of the trip may be viewed on my Facebook account; look for cincaluk or Seet Cheng Khim.

GOD's trip to Manado II (Aug-Sept) 2009

2009-09-10T14:23:00.006+08:00

The Drama of the First Dive

So off we went on the dive boat, a luxurious 30 footer (approximately). With a dive preparation area at the back, a dry area at the front, where meals were to be had and a chill out semi- covered area at the top.

Nice I thought, so off we went to the first dive site an hour and a half away. Having rested and lulled into a comfortable sense of well being… I was suddenly brought back into reality during the first dive briefing that the dive was to be a wall dive! But….but….but…it’s my first dive in 2 years! I wanted to shout out. Ah well…. “In for a penny, in for a pond”, as they say.

So with a pounding heart,I took a giant stride into the water. “Oops… I forgot to inflate the BC!” But that was of no consequence, as everyone was already descending, and so was I …. Very quickly indeed. Quickly inflate the BC I thought. “Ergh…. How do you do that? Isn’t there suppose to be a button you press to do that? Like this red one? Yes!!! Press it!!! No not that hard!!” Phrezz…. The BC over-inflates and I start rising…. A little too fast! Damn!!! Got to deflate it now, “How’s that done again???” “Must be the button next to the red one” Phrezz…. Damn too long again! Damn… I’m shooting down too fast again. So down, up, down, up…. until I finally get to some sort of stability. “Phew… that wasn’t so hard!” ( takes a look around….) Now… where is everybody…

“Are they below me?”

“F$%k!! there’s nothing below me!” (starts breathing even harder)

“Where are they!”

“Oh… they’re all above me!!!”

“Hmm… are they supposed to be that high above?”

“Let’s check my air and depth levels”

“Oooh… 36m and 150 psi”

“What was that the Dive Master said at the briefing? Open Water Divers, max depth 20m?”

“Ah well… so I exceed that by a smidge….won’t be the first time”

“More worrying is the air pressure, 50 psi gone just to get to a stable depth! And I’m a heavy breather!!! Ah well, let’s try to remain composed from now on and conserve a little air now”

However about 40 minutes later I discovered that my air supply was down to 50 psi. Bugger!! Time to surface. “Hell…Let’s push this a bit what’s the difference surfacing at 50 psi or 30 psi”

So at 30 psi, I approached the dive master (DM) and indicated to him that I was going up!

So I slowly ascended, but at 6m I did my impression of a cork in a bath, and popped up without so much as a “Cheers”.

“Eerh… what am I supposed to do now?”

“I suppose I’d better follow the group who are 10m below me.”

“Damn…this is the most expensive snorkelling trip I’ve been on”

“But the view’s good”

The view at snorkeling depth ( a fellow snorkeler)

So after 15 minutes of ‘snorkeling’, I had lost track of my group of divers (was following a different group), I checked my air pressure and it was, next to nothing.

"No wonder I'm sucking so hard to suck air in"

I then thought that it was best to fully inflate my BC,but... nothing happened!!

"F%@k! No more air!!! Double F%@k!!!" "Okay... time to use the snorkel"

So I lifted my head up and spotted the 2 boats including one that said ‘Tasik Divers’ in large bold letter on it’s side.

"Oh dear, I forgot to check the name of the dive boat. Anyway, the dive centre was Tasik Dive Centre, so... the safe bet is to head for Tasik Divers"

So there I was slowly making my way to "Tasik Divers" when the "friendly chaps" on the other white boat start waving to me. "Ah.... this is what I love about Indonesia, the people are so friendly" As I approached "Tasik Divers" the chaps on the white boat decided to get even friendlier and got quite close.

"Oh...I wish they wouldn't do that, now I've got to swim around them to get to Tasik Divers and it's quite hard work breathing through a snorkel as I have to suck the air in instead of it being forced in by the pressure from the air-tank."

Finally I got onboard "Tasik Divers" to much commotion as it emerged that the white boat was our dive boat!!! Ooops.... never mind said the boat-man as I made my apologies in halting Bahasa Indonesia, we are from the same company, so no problem.

So after settling down for a while, whilst the right, white boat recovered the other divers, I was then transferred to the white boat by jumping off "Tasik Divers" into the sea for a short swim to the white boat.

But... did the drama end there? No way!!!

After jumping into the water, what did I do??? What came naturally of course... opened my eyes!!! And I'm wearing contacts!!!! "Oh...Triple F*%k" I said as I realised and immediately shut my eyes. I surfaced and opened my eyes to find that the contacts were still there in my eyes.

Phew.... there ended the first dive of the trip to much amusement of my fellow divers.

GOD's Trip to Manado

2009-09-03T08:00:00.012+08:00

From the 27th August to the 1st of September 2009, I joined GOD's (Great Ocean Divers) and 15 other GOD buddies on a diving trip to Manado.

Having only dived a handful of times since my certification in 1996, I was a little apprehensive about the dives here, as it would include wall dives, meaning one would dive along the face of a cliff!! Now for someone who doesn't like heights, floating over an area where you can't see the bottom really isn't my idea of fun.

Diving at the sheer Wall of Bunaken

Anyway, packing aside my nervousness and a new underwater camera housing, I climbed on board Air Asia's flight AK432 to Manado (albeit 20 minutes late) and joined in the fun.

The drama began almost as soon as we reached Tasik Ria Resort. We arrived almost at mid-night and began the process of checking in. As the hotel staff were a little overwhelmed with the amount of luggage (lots of dive equipment), I decided ( as I had very little dive stuff) to haul my luggage and myself to the room. BAD idea!!!! The resort was sprawling and there were no signs! So having rapidly lost sight of most people within the first few minutes, I ended up walking around the gardens for half an hour hoping to stumble upon the room or at the very least Reception so that I could get guidance. Thankfully out of the shadows steps a slightly drunk German guest who rather unsteadily pointed out the general direction of the Reception and despite my better judgment, I followed his advice. Thankfully German efficiency won through, and I did find Reception and the receptionist did lead me to my room and I settled in for a good sleep.

I unpacked my toiletries and went to the bathroom to clean up. However I stepped back into the bedroom and it was still warm and stuffy!!! Hell!!! the air-conditioning wasn't working!!!! So I called up reception, who promised to send a maintenance staff to check. Dubious as I was that Maintenance would be on duty at 1 am, I waited and to my surprise, he turned up within 15 minutes. As I suspected, he could not solve the problem as the fault was either a faulty compressor or a compressor which is short of refrigerant, he said he'll check the outdoor unit. After 15 minutes, he still had not returned to fix the problem whence I promptly called Reception, who promised to check on hte matter and promised to get the problem solved in 15 minutes. (Yeah right!) 15 minutes later.... still the blower was blowing hot air, so once again I picked up the phone and called Reception, who tried to sell me the idea that the problem will be fixed within 15 minutes! I promptly told him that that's not going to happen and that insisted that I be placed in another room for the night. After much more hot air.... he finally agreed and came over to the room to lead me to the new room. So I packed up my toiletries and followed him to the new room and promptly fell asleep at about 3am.

The next morning I arose and went for breakfast at the appointed time of 7am Indonesian time (1 hour behind Malaysian time right?) I sat down for breakfast and felt strange as I was the only person there. Sensing something wrong, I promptly went off to the dive centre (which I noticed during my late night wanderings from last night) when I found the rest of the group preping up for the morning's dive. I hurriedly apologised to everyone and completed the necessary preparations (filled out forms, ordered the necessary dive equipment, rushed back to my room to pop in my contacts etc.) The dive centre was sceptical about my dive credentials as I did not bring my dive card along with me and said that I would not be able to dive the second day if I did not show them some proof of certification. So I had to 'phone home and arrange for my certification form to be faxed to the dive centre to be able to continue diving.

After that drama, We went diving (finally...)

Then the drama of the first dive!!!

(to be continued.....)

Smug Bastard

2009-07-22T18:47:00.004+08:00

This is for the Surveyor with the Quiver who poo pooded that my suggestion of signing Michael Owen way back in early June. Well not only did SAF sign him, but 2 goals from his first 2 matches (albeit against Malaysia) and I'm grinning from ear to ear like the smug bastard that I am. Go number 7!!!

Snaps from my travels - Macau

2009-07-19T08:10:00.004+08:00

Some pics from my Macau trip.

Travel Schedule for July

2009-06-22T18:54:00.003+08:00

The following is my Travelling Schedule for July.

28th June -2nd July Macau
2nd July - 6th July KL Travel Fair
10th July - 12 July Bali Patta Fair
15th - 18th July Singapore to meet my younger sister on her way back to NZ from the UK.

Boy...I'll be whacked.

After Bali, I'll probably be moving into Mum's new flat on a temporary basis.

Activities in the Park

2009-06-21T10:36:00.005+08:00

I went for my first morning bicycle ride this morning at the MBMB Park.
Remarkably the park was full! There was people everywhere!!!

Attached are photographs of the organised activities in the morning.

Aerobics in the Park

Line Dancing under the trees

Jogging Track

Dad's Birthday's

2009-06-17T09:15:00.006+08:00

Last week dad celebrated his Birthday 3 times!!!

The first, a surprise lunch arranged by Madelina, at the new Bei Ziang Restaurant on Friday the 6th of June.

The second, lunch at Ole Sayang.

And the third at Renaissance Restaurant, a treat by Dr. Ee.

Roger Moore Moments

2009-06-15T09:47:00.004+08:00

Since I'm not in the mood of being creative at the moment, I thought that I'll just share what I've found interesting on the net.

Total Eclipse of a Song

2009-06-11T18:37:00.004+08:00

A friend shared this on Facebook. It is so funny I had to post it here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj-x9ygQEGA

Turn around, and turned on it's head.

"Bored Shit-less"

2009-06-07T13:40:00.011+08:00

It was the "Agong's" (Malay Ruler) Birthday yesterday , hence the whole of Malacca town was packed full of tourists; filling up every restaurant, shopping center and car -parking space. As is my usual response to such days, I do my passable impression of a hermit and was thus, "Bored Shit-less."

Which got me thinking.... "What the hell does that phrase mean anyway?"

Well here's my theory, formed from yesterday's experience as I sat on the throne on my umpteenth trip to the loo for the want of something better to do. Bored shit-less eh..? As I tried yet another bowel movement to ease the last of the crap from my colon.....mmm....

Terminator Salvation

2009-06-04T23:20:00.004+08:00

Watched this movie tonight.

Another whizz, bang action big budget action movie best seen on the big screen or from 10" in front of a 40" telly.

The plot wasn't great, action scenes pretty standard by modern movies. A little bit like Mad Max meets The Matrix with more then a little Terminator thrown in. Oh! and Christian Bale gets another cool bike in this movie as well.

H1N1

2009-06-02T10:16:00.004+08:00

The best advice I've received with regard to avoiding H1N1.

Now go wash your hands!!!

Go-Starn

2009-05-29T08:53:00.006+08:00

To "go-starn" in the Malaysian lingo (didn't want to say, Malaysian English as it translates across all the Malaysian languages) means to go backwards or reverse. It is not unusual to hear the instruction directed by back-seat drivers to their unfortunate drivers to "go-starn, go-starn lah!"
Which would translate as "Kindly reverse up old chap" in the more genteel word of middle England (if you had Biggles and Bertie Wooster as neighbours)

Do you know where the term comes from?

It derives from the nautical term of "go astern". the Stern being the back of a ship; therefore meaning to go to the back, or reverse. Translated by Malaysians... "Go-starn lah!"

Gattaca in Blu

2009-05-24T09:16:00.007+08:00

I've just watched Gattaca on BluRay.

Oh it's a yummy film. So elegant and stylish. And the colours that come through in High Definition!!! Oh... Gershwin for the eyes!!!

Don't you just love that spiral staircase!

One more for the "Bucket List" - the list of things to do before kicking the bucket.

Mercury's Retrograde

2009-05-24T08:45:00.006+08:00

My horoscope constantly warns me about being careful, especially with regard to electronic and mechanical equipment when Mercury (my ruling planet) is in retrograde (I don't know what that means either!!)

Being educated in a world of science, I did not pay much attention to such warnings, however with Mercury being in retrograde much of this month, and with the car breaking down last week, and to top it off the car being bumped into last night whilst it was parked in a car park last night; as Mulder would say... "I believe"

I need a new car!

2009-05-17T12:21:00.004+08:00

My 14 year old Camry broke down last night.

It took me 3 hours to get it sent to the work-shop.

With 250,000 km under its belt, it looks like I better get serious about getting a new car, but with the current economic situation and with a new house in the pipe-line to pay for, a few adjustments may have to be made.

Angels and Demons

2009-05-17T11:17:00.006+08:00

Last night I watched "Angels and Demons".

Once again, Tom Hanks reprises the role of Dr. Robert Langdon; the role he played in "The da Vinci Code" and once again, Tom Hanks's hair style was a distraction throughout the movie as it's now quite ordinary and the fact that it is so and not the distraction it was in the earlier film, makes it even more distracting! (If you know what I mean)

Apart from the haircut, the film was an enjoyable romp through the Vatican, though I'll always appreciate the book more then the film, especially as I was reading it during the ascension of Pope Benedict XVI; the book helped me appreciate the significance of the colour of the smoke emanating from the chimney of St. Marks Cathedral.

However the most sexy thing about the film was not the divine Ayelet Zurer, but the super sexy black Alfas, the police used to whirl around the Vatican with. That defined the tempo of the film, it was a non stop chase; a sort of Italian Job meets Indiana Jones.

Stalker - A great Detective Story

2009-05-16T12:53:00.007+08:00

According to information I've gathered from Sitemeter, recently (15th May 2009) someone in Brisbane Australia, did a "Vanity Search" for me and perused this blog-site for 5 minutes. Then they quit this site after reading my profile.

Yes! My first Stalker!!!!

Would this stalker please identify himself/herself.

Talking about the Weather

2009-05-16T12:47:00.004+08:00

The recent heat-wave in Malaysia has turned Malaysians into Brits, Always talking if not complaining about the weather.

Please Allah, let us have some rain...

A Year On

2009-05-16T01:55:00.001+08:00

Sung to Sargent Pepper's Lone Heart Club Band

It was a whole year ago today
When I decided to start this blog
It was when I needed a rile
A blog was very much in style

So may I introduce this blog
The one and only "Cincaluk"

Views from the Sofa and the gang...

Revenge is Sweet!!!

2009-05-11T16:40:00.002+08:00

This is soo... funny I had to share it!!!

From the BBC's daily Gossip posting.

Angry Chelsea supporters want to get their own back on Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo, who made a number of controversial decisions in the Blues' Champions League semi-final, second leg against Barcelona. They have set up an internet campaign to stop Norway winning the Eurovision song contest.
(Full story: Daily Star)

Abba winning the 1974 Eorovision Song Contest with "Waterloo"

For those of you who have never seen it; the Eurovision Song Contest, this singing competition is held annually between European Nations and is seriously naff. It's a joke of a contest which can list Abba, Cliff Richard (before he was sired) and Bucks Fizz as previous contestants.

And by the way, Norway has led the way in scoring zero points in the competition regularly.

Heatwave

2009-05-10T14:43:00.003+08:00

Here's a video which aptly describes the weather we are experiencing in Malacca right now.

Oh the wonderful Marilyn, the saucy innocence. And she can sing as well. They don't make them like her anymore.

Star Trek

2009-05-08T08:30:00.012+08:00

The Old and The New

Once again we've begun the season of the Summer Blockbusters when Hollywood traditionally releases it's best films; so once again I brave the gaunlet of incredulous comments from the cinema's gate-keepers. "Yes, I do know where the screen is"; "Yes, I do want that seat"; "Yes I do know that it's two rows from the screen"

So off I went to watch the new re-imagining of Star Trek, where the baddie, Nero slips back in time to prevent his home world of Romulus from getting blown up; here he meets the young team of Kirk, Spock, "Bones" McCoy, Scotty and Ohura who are of course there to stop him from destroying all the Federation home worlds.

This of course causes a split in the Space Time Continuium, and history from this moment on is on a different path thus enabling the Rodenberry family to further cash in on the franchise by producing more films based on this new time line. Clever that. An interesting aside is the blossoming romance between Spock and the bodylicious Ohura. Look out for that in the next few films. (What is the Universe coming to!!?!)

Anyway, back to the film. As one would expect for a modern, big budget film, the special effects are extremely good, lots of whizz bangs and explosions. Also watch out for the kick arse warp-speed effect.

A typical feel-good Star Trek movie. Once again allowing us to venture into plots where no Trekies have gone before.

Word of the Day

2009-05-06T08:54:00.002+08:00

The word on the sofa last Friday was Opulent.

op⋅u⋅lent

–adjective

1.	characterized by or exhibiting opulence: an opulent suite.

2.	wealthy, rich, or affluent.

3.	richly supplied; abundant or plentiful: opulent sunshine.

Origin:
1595–1605; < class="ital-inline">opulentus wealthy, equiv. to op- (s. of ops power, wealth) + -ulentus -ulent

The discussion started off on the cut-backs which one has to make to our current live-styles due to the current economic climate; it then went on to more personal level as the "Sage on the Sofa" was chided of leading an opulent live-style, for driving not one but TWO German cars. He went on to defend his "Spartan" live-style, by pointing out that one of his German cars was 14 years old and it's wipers did not work. And he tried to sell this car to me!!! Hmm....

Well the evening went along the same vein with everyone justifying their opulent aquisitions.

Needless to say that as a Baba, by definition, I did not have much to defend.